Credit Score
A 300–850 number summarizing how reliably you handle debt. Lenders use it to set your interest rates — a good score saves tens of thousands over a lifetime of borrowing.
By Findley's Finance · Last reviewed: September 2026
Why it matters
Your score is built from five factors: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit (10%). The formula rewards boring consistency — pay on time, keep balances low, do not open cards you do not need. There is no trick to it, which is exactly why most people ignore it until a mortgage quote punishes them.